Thanks to its extensive and ambitious engagement approach, that relies on an in-house RI Research team made up 11 ESG analysts, Mirova targeted 291 companies through individual dialogue (among which 185 held in its equity portfolios) and more than 1,000 companies were targeted by Mirova's collaborative engagement in 2019 (among which 164 were held in its equity portfolios). While, carrying out engagement initiatives, Mirova primarily engages in dialogue with issuers held in portfolio, but can also targets a wider universe depending on the addressed issue. However, 2019 was an extraordinary year for Mirova as it launched a collaborative engagement with regards to women empowerment in companies particularly to encourage companies to sign and adhere to the UN’s Women Empowerment Principles. This engagement targeted all companies found in the MSCI World index which consists of more than 1,000.
As regards individual engagement, the dialogue was undertaken as part of their ESG analysis, or while analysing AGMS resolutions. Over 389 meetings (or others forms of direct contacts e.g. calls, site visits, emails) were held to this end.
Individual dialogue carried out by the in-house RI Research team is systematically comprehensive and takes several forms: meetings, roadshows, letters/emails, calls, etc. (please refer to LEA.12 for further details).
Collaborative dialogue carried out by Mirova as lead investor through its engagement platform is also comprehensive and includes a close monitoring of targeted companies (for further details about the modus operandi, please refer to LEA.05 and LEA.06, and the themes addressed are described in LEA.13).
Mirova also joins other collaborative initiatives led by RI professional bodies or by other investors, whenever relevant, i.e. if the theme is compatible with Mirova's vision, objectives and priorities in terms of sustainability.
Further information about the ESG topics covered by individual and collaborative engagement is provided in LEA.13, and more details are disclosed in Mirova's annual engagement report, publicly available on its website:
http://www.mirova.com/en-INT/voting-and-engagement
In addition to its above-described dialogue carried out as a shareholder, it should be specified that Mirova has also set up a specific strategy focused on green bonds, which represent a large part of its Fixed Income portfolios (for further information, please refer to FI section, Q. FI.18, FI.19 and FI.20).